GERMAN ATV RULES AND STANDARDS

W A S T E W A T E R - W A S T E

STANDARD
ATV A 257E

Principles for the Dimensioning of Wastewater

lagoons and In-line Biological Filters or
Biological Contactors

October 1989
ISBN 3-934984-36-3

Marketing:
Gesellschaft zur Förderung der
Abwassertechnik e.V. (GFA)
Theodor-Heuß-Allee 17
D-53773 Hennef
Postfach 11 65 . 53758 Hennef
 ATV A 257E

The ATV Specialist Committee 2.10 "Small Sewage Treatment Plants", which has
prepared this Standard, has the following members:

Dipl.-Ing. Albrecht, Essen

Dr.-Ing. Baumgart, Essen
Professor Dr.-Ing. Dr. h. c. Böhnke, Aachen
LBDir Bucksteeg, München (Chairman)
BioOR Dr. Kollatsch, Hildesheim
LBDir Schweizer, Rottwell
RBD Tiedtke, Münster
Dipl.-Ing. Tuttahs, Bochum
BD Voss, Kiel
Dr.-Ing. Zerres, Stuttgart

The Standard presented here has been prepared within the framework of the
ATV committee work, taking into account the ATV Standard A 400 "Principles for
the Preparation of Rules and Standards" in the Rules and Standards
Wastewater/Waste, in the January 1994 version. With regard to the application
of the Rules and Standards, Para. 1 of Point 5 of A 400 includes the following
statement: "The Rules and Standards are freely available to everyone. An
obligation to apply them can result for reasons of legal regulations, contracts or
other legal grounds. Whosoever applies them is responsible for the correct
application in specific cases. Through the application of the Rules and Standards
no one avoids responsibility for his own actions. However, for the user, prima
facie evidence shows that he has taken the necessary care".
The Rules and Standards are not the sole but rather an important source of
knowledge for technically correct solutions for the tasks of wastewater and
waste engineering in normal cases. For these the ATV Standards form a
yardstick for correct technical conduct. They cannot, however, deal with all
possible special cases, in which extensive or limited measures are offered. In
special cases it is possible to deviate from the definitions of the Rules and
Standards, if the same effectiveness with the same security can be achieved in
a different fashion.

All rights, in particular those of translation into other languages, are reserved. No part of this Standard may be
reproduced in any form by photocopy, microfilm or any other process or transferred or translated into a language
usable in machines, in particular data processing machines, without the written approval of the publisher.

 Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Abwassertechnik e.V. (GFA), St. Augustin 1987
Produced by: Carl Weyler KG, Bonn

October 1989
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 ATV A 257E
Contents Page

Foreword 4

1. Area of Application 4

2. System description 4

3. Loading values 5

4. Dimensioning 6
4.1 Settling pond 6
4.2 Biological filters 6
4.3 Biological contactors 7
4.4 Installations for coarse desludging 8
4.5 Secondary settling pond 8

5. Symbols and units 8

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 ATV A 257E
Foreword
In practice the employment of wastewater ponds with in-line biological filters or biological
contactors ran parallel in time with the employment of unaerated and aerated wastewater
ponds. The ATV/KfK (Kuratorium für Kulturbauwesen [Board of Trustees for Agricultural
Engineering Matters]) Working Group "Sewage Treatment Plants for Small Communities"
had, already in 1968, concerned itself with this wastewater treatment system in a report
"Double tanks in combination with trickling filters as sewage treatment plants for small
communities" (published by Lohr in GWF, Vol. 38, 1968, p. 1062). System advantages
and treatment capacity of the combined facilities have since been described on
numerous occasions. However, as the dimensioning of the individual facility component
parts are not covered in either

- ATV Standard A 201E

"Principles for the Dimensioning, Construction and Operation of Wastewater lagoons
for Communal Wastewater"

or

- ATV Standard A 135E

"Principles for the Dimensioning of Biological Filters and Biological Contactors with
Connection Values over 500 Population Equivalents"

there is a danger, that this tested but previously mainly regionally used wastewater
treatment system is omitted for further use in practice. To retain this combination process
for certain cases of application is, however, considered to be sensible. Such cases exist
if
- the advantages of a pond system (e.g. unproblematic co-treatment of stormwater
with combined sewer systems) are to be used, however, the total necessary large
areas required are not available, or nitrification is required,
- existing pond systems or biological filter or biological contactor plants are to be
expanded,
- operation matching to large seasonal variations play a particular role.
1. Area of Application
This Standard applies for the treatment of domestic wastewater with a small to medium
commercial wastewater component, which is comparable to domestic wastewater, in
ponds with in-line biological filters or biological contactors. The capacity of these facilities
lies mostly in the range between some 1000 and 3000 PT; however, in individual cases,
practical solutions can still be found also for lower or higher capacities. The location of
these facilities is limited essentially to rural areas.

2. System Description
The facility consists of the following system specific treatment parts:
- settling pond
- biological filter or biological contactor stage
- facility for coarse desludging
- secondary settling tank(s).

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 ATV A 257E
The process technical combination is shown in the following schematic diagram. (The
circulation lines necessary for the individual structures are not shown).

The combination process is characterised by

- large buffer capacity against inflow and pollution surges, 
- even loading of the biological filter or biological contactor stage,  See ATV
Standard
- unproblematic co-treatment of combined wastewater in  A 201E
accordance with ATV Standard A 128, 
- integrated sludge treatment and storage, 
- possibility of oxidation of nitrogen compounds contained 
in the wastewater,  See ATV Standard
- simple mechanical equipment,  A 135E
- small maintenance expenditure. 
3. Loading Values
As a rule, with the dimensioning of wastewater lagoons with in-line biological filters or
biological contactors, the following guidance values are to be assumed:

inhabitant related organic

pollutant load (BOD5) 60 g/d
inhabitant related domestic and commercial wastewater yield 150 l/d

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 ATV A 257E
If commercial wastewater, which is comparable with domestic wastewater, is also
treated, then this is to be taken into account separately. Infiltration water is, depending
upon local conditions, to be taken into account additionally.

4. Dimensioning
4.1 Settling Tank
By this it is understood to be the first pond independent of the principles according to
which this is dimensioned:

- either as classic settling pond

necessary pond volume per inhabitant and population equivalent (PT)
VPT ≥ 0.5 m3

- or as so-called unaerated pond

necessary pond surface area per inhabitant and population equivalent (PT)
APT ≥ 2.0 m2

See ATV Standard A 201E, Sect. 3.1 for information on design.

The co-treatment of stormwater is based on ATV Standard A 201E, Sect. 4. From the
case examples described there, those without relief pipeline in the inlet are to be
preferred for employment.

As the effectiveness of the ponds is to be oriented on winter conditions and, in summer

with partially better performance, there is also more heavily digested wastewater fed to
biological filters or contactors, the treatment performance of normal primary settling tanks
is to be applied for the subsequent facilities. Thus 40 g/d applies for the inhabitant
related BOD5 in the outlet of a settling pond.

As, in any case, a power supply is required for the biological filter pumps and/or the
biological contactor drive, it is recommended that that the installation of an automatically
clearing screen is provided for at the stormwater inlet to the settling pond.

4.2 Biological Filter

The following BOD5 volumetric loading BR is to be applied for the determination of the
necessary biological filter volume:

Degradation of Nitrification
compounds
containing carbon

- with rock filling BR ≤ 0.4 ≤ 0.2 kg/(m3 . d)

- with synthetic filler elements with

specific surfaces below operating
conditions
AR ≈ 100 m2/m3 BR ≤ 0.4 ≤ 0.2 kg/(m3 . d)
AR ≈ 200 m2/m3 BR ≤ 0.8 ≤ 0.4 kg/(m3 . d)

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 ATV A 257E
An interpolation of BR is possible with intermediate values of AR. With filler elements
with AR ≈ 200 m2/m3 blockages can occur.

The height of the biological filters should be between 3.0 and 4.5 m.

The biological filter feed pumps are to be designed for a recirculation ratio RV = 1 and/or
a BOD5 mix concentration in the biological filter inlet of cm ≤ 120 mg/l. The larger
recirculation value is relevant for the design of the pumps.

The following experience values apply for the verification of the surface feed qA(1 + RV):
- for biological filters dimensioned for the degradation of carbon compounds (BOD5):
qA(1 + RV) in m/h is to lie between 1.5 and 2.5 times the BR in kg/(m3 . d).
- for biological filters dimensioned for nitrification:
qA(1 + RV) in m/h is to lie between 2.0 and 4.0 times the BR in kg/(m3 . d).
Example:

For BOD5 volumetric loading of 0.4 kg/(m3 . d) the following surface feed applies

qA(1 + RV) = 1.5 x 0.4 to 2.5 x 0.4 = 0.6 to 1.0 m/h

In sites with a strong frost hazard the walls of biological filters are to be insulated and the
surfaces as far as possible covered in order to counter cooling and fall in performance.

Further information can be taken from ATV Standard A 135E.

4.3 Biological Contactors

The following BOD5 surface loadings BA are to be applied for the determination of the
necessary surface of rotating biological contactors:

Degradation of Nitrification
compounds
containing carbon
BA ≤ 0.8 ≤4 g/(m2 . d)

There should be at least two biological contactors in series.

A return water feed is to be provided. Observation of the principle with regard to the
recirculation ratio and/or BOD5 mix concentration as for biological filters is desirable.

Biological contactors are to be protected against the effects of winter by a superstructure

or cover. It is to be ensured that the biological contactor is accessible form all sides and
that monitoring and maintenance tasks are possible at every point.

Further information can be taken from ATV Standard A 135E.

Note

With combination installations consisting of biological contactors in aeration tanks as one

unit with sludge return, the BOD5 inlet load is to be shared to both processes. For both
the part loading verifications are to be carried out using the permitted loading values in
accordance with ATV Standard A 126E and the above given loading values. One

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 ATV A 257E
proceeds from the assumption from the verification of the volumetric loading related to
the available net volume of the aeration process (usable tank volume less the volume of
the submerged part of the biological contactors). The complete employment of the
permitted volumetric and surface loadings is only justified if the total volume of water is
supplied with sufficient oxygen by intensive aeration and mixing.

4.4 Installations for Coarse Desludging

The following can be employed for coarse desludging:

- settling tanks
with surface feed of qA ≤ 1.5 m/h fro Qd

or

- woven fabric filters

with surface feed qA ≤ 8.0 m/h for Qd.

With stormwater inflow there are, as a rule, no higher surface feeds as the stormwater
component appropriately replaces the return component. If, in exceptional cases, there
are higher feeds then the above given surface feeds may be exceeded by a maximum of
50 %.

4.5 Secondary Settling Pond

The necessary pond volume is made up from the necessary minimum throughflow time
tR = 1d for dry weather inflow. With throughflow times of over 2 days significantly better
and more stable outflows are achieved. With an extension of the throughflow times the
danger of a formation of heavier algae increases. If an overflow before the settling pond
of relief combined wastewater is accepted into the secondary settling pond this must
have a specific surface area of at least 3 m2/PT.

With large secondary settling ponds it is recommended that they are divided into several
in-line ponds, whereby the last pond should be designed as planted shallow water zone.

5. Symbols and units

APT m2 surface per inhabitant and population equivalent
AR m2/m3 specific surface area
BA g/(m2 . d) BOD5 surface loading
BR kg/(m3 . d) BOD5 volumetric loading
cm g/m3 mean mix concentration from dry weather inflow and return
pump water at the rotating sprinkler
PT I Number of inhabitants and population equivalents
qA m/h surface feed
Qd l/s; m3/h dry weather inflow
RV - ratio of return flow to Qd
tR d throughflow time
VPT m3 volume per inhabitant and population equivalent

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